''Somm 3'' is the third film in the SOMM documentary series, following 2013's ''
SOMM'' and 2015's ''
SOMM: Into the Bottle''. Directed by
Jason Wise and distributed by
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Samuel Goldwyn Films is an American film company that licenses, releases and distributes art-house, independent and foreign films. It was founded by Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the son of the Hollywood business magnate/mogul, Samuel Goldwyn. The cu ...
, SOMM 3 centers on two tastings reminiscent of the 1976
Judgment of Paris
Judgement (or US spelling judgment) is also known as '' adjudication'', which means the evaluation of evidence to make a decision. Judgement is also the ability to make considered decisions. The term has at least five distinct uses. Aristotle ...
.
Synopsis
Narrated by
Wine Folly
Wine Folly is a website founded in October 2011 by Madeline Puckette and developer Justin Hammack. The website was found and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The website is an educational wine blog that publishes articles, videos, cours ...
's Madeline Puckette, SOMM 3 centers on two tastings reminiscent of the 1976 Judgment of Paris. The first tasting takes place at Verve in New York with Dustin Wilson, from the first two films, organizing the event. Participants include Laura Maniec, Pascaline Lepeltier, Sabato Sagaria, and Aldo Sohm. The blind tasting involves six Pinot Noir from around the world.
The film goes back and forth from the tasting in New York to a tasting in Paris featuring three notable individuals in the wine world: Fred Dame,
Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW (born 22 April 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the ''Financial Times'', and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She ...
, and
Steven Spurrier. The three bring forward bottles from their careers and open them as they discuss wine and significant moments.
Meanwhile, in New York, the wines are ranked prior to the reveal of the names and the top wines are then taken to the second tasting in Paris, ready to be judged a second time by Fred, Jancis and Steven.
Cast
This third installment in the SOMM series continues with Ian Cauble, Brian McClintic, Dustin Wilson and DLynn Proctor along with Fred Dame, Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier, Laura Maniec, Pascaline Lepeltier, Sabato Sagaria, and Aldo Sohm.
Critical response
The film was well received with the ''Hollywood Reporter'' saying, "Closely examining the evaluation of wines from critical, hospitality and commercial perspectives, the pic takes the famed “Judgment of Paris” tasting event (amusingly portrayed in 2008's ''Bottle Shock'') as its departure point to explore the varied, and often subjective, characteristics that make great wines memorable and often very valuable." Decanter said, "This film serves to remind us that wine is subjective and deeply personal; it’s not about scores and ratings or price tag, but about who you’re with, where you are, and how you feel in the moment you taste it." Eater.com said, "The ‘Somm’ Franchise Gets Better With Age."
References
{{Reflist
2018 films
Documentary films about wine